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How We Do It

Friends of Joshua Tree is a grassroots access group for Joshua Tree National Park representing climbers, hikers, wildlife viewers, night sky enthusiasts, backpackers and campers. We work to ensure that future generations of climbers and other park enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the park. The following are our areas of focus:

National Park Liaison

Over the past twenty years, Friends of Joshua Tree has established a proactive dialogue with the National Park Service to ensure continued climbing access in the park. Through collaborations with the park administration, Friends of Josh has had a guiding hand in the Back country and Wilderness Management Plan, and is playing an integral part in the writing of the new Joshua Tree National Park Climbing Policy. We are the first climbing advocacy group in the country to secure a Memo Of Understanding (MOU) with the National Park Service.

JOSAR/Search & Rescue Partner to the Park

FOJT is the primary funding partner for the all volunteer Search & Rescue organization, among the busiest in the American West (nearly 2 Million visitors come to Joshua Tree National Park each year… and many are unprepared for the experience, or get lost).

Trail Restoration

Friends of Joshua Tree works with the Access Fund and the National Park Service to establish and maintain trails in the park, and urges climbers and others to approach crags only via designated trails. Several times per year FOJT musters a strong volunteer corps to effect positive impact in the Park’s myriad trails and damaged or sensitive natural areas.

Desert Ecology

Friends of Joshua Tree advocates “leave no trace” practices, urging climbers and others to respect the sensitive plant and animal life flourishing in the fragile desert ecology.

Litter-Free Desert

Friends of Joshua Tree urges climbers and others to pack out all trash, and to use designated bathrooms whenever available.

Park Improvements

Friends of Joshua Tree provides input on various park issues such as automobile parking, raptor nesting protection, various user trails and environmental impact, and others important to climbers and other visitors.

We also work directly with climbers to educate them on important park issues. Through events, slide shows, public gatherings, and town hall meetings, climbers learn about issues ranging from crag access and bolting policy to park preservation and desert plant & animal protection. FOJT keeps its members up-to-date through this website and the newsletter “Wonderland”, published three times a year.

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OUR MISSION

Friends of Joshua Tree is a non-profit organization dedicated , to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree advocates, communicates, and encourages ethical and environmentally sound climbing practices, and works to shape park policy on climbing and climbing-related issues. Toward that end, Friends of Joshua Tree acts as the liaison between the climbing community and the National Park service.